Explore family friendly events, theatres, galleries, concerts, nightlife, things to do, and more in the Greenville, SC and Upstate areas.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Saturday, December 2, 2023
Angel Tree adoption
Dec 2 all-day
online

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

Share joy with a family experiencing the realities of poverty in Greenville this holiday season. Provide a child in need with clothing and gifts through our Angel Tree program.

This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, church groups, schools, social clubs, HOAs, companies, civic organizations and more to work together to share hope at the holidays.

You can also help us provide gifts to children in our Angel Tree program by shopping online through one of our charitable gift registries. Visit our website through the link below to select the online retailer you’d like to shop, and gifts will be sent directly to The Salvation Army of Greenville to share with our Angel Tree families.

Shop Now
Christmas at Biltmore Daytime and Evening
Dec 2 all-day
Biltmore Estate

Immerse Yourself in the Magic

Experience Christmas at Biltmore, when America’s Largest Home®, Antler Hill Village, and the entire estate are beautifully bedecked for the holidays.

NEW THIS YEAR: all Biltmore House tickets include FREE next-day grounds access. Because more time to explore means more memories made. Select ticket types also include Italian Renaissance Alive.

Antler Hill Village Illumination

Included with admission—Bask in the glow of a glittering cascade of lights illuminating trees, buildings, and the pathways that connect the unique shops, restaurants, and Winery in Antler Hill Village. Experience this must-see part of the Christmas at Biltmore tradition, which includes festive displays adorning Ciao! From Italy and our relaxing Winery, where complimentary tastings await.

Christmas Daytime Celebration

November 3, 2023–January 7, 2024

A daytime visit to Biltmore is a feast for the senses, featuring fragrant wreaths, glittering garland, and the sparkle of thousands of ornaments from Biltmore House to Antler Hill Village! Wrap yourself in the magic of this most beloved of holiday traditions: Christmas at Biltmore.

NEW THIS YEAR:
All Biltmore House tickets include FREE next-day grounds access!
Select ticket options also include Italian Renaissance Alive.

BUY ONLINE & SAVERight Arrow

Plan now for Christmas at Biltmore 2024! View Ticket Options.

Candlelight Christmas Evenings

An Unforgettable Holiday Evening

November 3, 2023–January 6, 2024

A majestic Norway spruce and pathway luminaries welcome you to America’s Largest Home®. Inside, thousands of ornaments reflect the soft glow of candles, fireplaces, and twinkle lights. The magic continues in Antler Hill Village, which is festooned with glittering lights, ornaments, and displays.

NEW THIS YEAR:
All Biltmore House tickets include FREE next-day grounds access!
Select ticket options also include Italian Renaissance Alive.

BUY TICKETSRight Arrow

Plan now for Candlelight Christmas Evenings 2024! View Ticket Options.

Greenville BBQ Trail Tour
Dec 2 all-day
Various Locations Greenville SC

While Downtown Greenville’s familiar culinary scene has some great BBQ options, this tour will take you outside of the city center to the places locals know and love. These are the types of joints with smoke stacks sticking out of the rooftops and white smoke billowing out of the chimneys–smoking the meats right on the premises.

The Greenville BBQ Trail tour is your opportunity to try back-to-back tastings of what are considered by many to be among the top BBQ spots in the city.

Tours include:

• Insights into each restaurant’s cooking processes and techniques
• Information about each restaurant’s history and how they got started
• Interesting information about Greenville BBQ history
• A drive through old textile mill villages
• And, of course, a chance to try generous portions of smoked meats and delicious sides

Locations we visit:

• Bucky’s Bar-B-Q
• Henry’s Smokehouse
• Mike & Jeff’s BBQ

Meals on Wheels of Greenville Young Professionals: CauseBars
Dec 2 all-day
Meals on Wheels- Greenville

Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping with Meals on Wheels of Greenville Young Professionals’ holiday edition CauseBars! Perfect for stocking stuffers, gifts for coworkers, or teacher appreciation baskets. These gourmet chocolate bars come in Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt.

For every CauseBar purchased for $10, a homebound client will receive an emergency meal kit to use in an emergency event. Purchases can be made online, over the phone (864-233-6565), or in-person at our office.

Old Farmer’s Ball Needs Volunteers
Dec 2 all-day
various locations

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

  • Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
  • Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

The Greenville BBQ Trail Tour
Dec 2 all-day
The Greenville BBQ Trail Tour
A plate of barbeque and side dishes.

Greenville’s BBQ scene has been gaining more and more national attention, and it was most notably ranked a Top 10 BBQ City in America by Yahoo.com.

While downtown Greenville’s familiar culinary scene has some great BBQ options, this tour will take you outside of the city center to the places locals know and love. These are the types of joints with smoke stacks sticking out of the rooftops and white smoke billowing out of the chimneys — smoking the meats right on the premises.

The Greenville BBQ Trail Tour, presented by Greenville History Tours, is your opportunity to try back-to-back tastings of what are considered by many to be among the top BBQ spots in the city.

The tours include insights into each restaurant’s cooking processes and techniques, information about each restaurant’s history, interesting information about the city’s BBQ history, a drive through old textile mill villages, and of course generous portions of smoked meats and delicious sides.

The tours usually take place on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:45 am and meet at City Hall. Tickets are $55 per person.

Visit greenvillehistorytours.com/greenville-culinary-tours/bbq-trail/ or call (864) 567-3940 for additional information.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SPEND LOCAL IN SPARTANBURG
Dec 2 all-day
Spartanburg

Make holiday shopping easy this year and support Spartanburg businesses. Whether you’re shopping in-store, from the comfort of your couch or from your office desk, spend local this holiday season.

SHOP ONLINE IN SPARTANBURG

These retailers offer e-commerce options so you can shop from the safety of your home.

DOWNTOWN SPARTANBURG SHOPPING GUIDE

Plan a trip to Downtown Spartanburg to knock out your holiday shopping list.

MADE IN SPARTANBURG GIFT GUIDE

Boost community pride with gifts that are Made in Spartanburg

Tweetsie Christmas
Dec 2 all-day
Tweetsie Railroad

Celebrate the holiday season as Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland for Tweetsie Christmas on November 24, 25, 26, December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30!

Closed Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Buy Tickets Now

Tweetsie Christmas offers holiday activities the whole family will love, including a 20-minute nighttime train ride in an open-air car behind one of the park’s historic steam locomotives on a three-mile route lined with over 1 million Christmas lights, a heartwarming, toe-tapping, live Christmas variety show, kid-friendly amusement rides, meetings with Santa in his Gingerbread House filled with candied furnishings, and roasting s’mores over an outdoor fire.

Win a Tuscany Culinary Escape Package or a 3 night stay in Napa Valley
Dec 2 all-day
online w/ Greer Relief

Don’t miss this opportunity to make your dreams of a remarkable getaway come true, all while supporting a great cause. Purchase your sweepstakes entry today, and you could be the lucky winner of one of these incredible experiences!

Remember, every entry counts and helps us make a difference in our community. Thank you for your support, and best of luck!

Winner’s Choice! Spend a week in Italy for 2 at the Hotel Ponte Sisto in Rome 2-Night Stay, and the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa 5-Night Stay. Enjoy a daily complimentary breakfast and enjoy a Winery and Olive Oil Press Tour & Tasting with lunch at the Fattoria Colle Verde in the Tuscany countryside or enjoy a 3-Night stay for 2 in Napa Valley at the Meritage Resort and Spa with a Wine Train Tour including a gourmet lunch, Hot Air Balloon Ride, & Wine Tasting.

Sunday, December 3, 2023
Angel Tree adoption
Dec 3 all-day
online

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

Share joy with a family experiencing the realities of poverty in Greenville this holiday season. Provide a child in need with clothing and gifts through our Angel Tree program.

This is a great opportunity for individuals, families, church groups, schools, social clubs, HOAs, companies, civic organizations and more to work together to share hope at the holidays.

You can also help us provide gifts to children in our Angel Tree program by shopping online through one of our charitable gift registries. Visit our website through the link below to select the online retailer you’d like to shop, and gifts will be sent directly to The Salvation Army of Greenville to share with our Angel Tree families.

Shop Now
Christmas at Biltmore Daytime and Evening
Dec 3 all-day
Biltmore Estate

Immerse Yourself in the Magic

Experience Christmas at Biltmore, when America’s Largest Home®, Antler Hill Village, and the entire estate are beautifully bedecked for the holidays.

NEW THIS YEAR: all Biltmore House tickets include FREE next-day grounds access. Because more time to explore means more memories made. Select ticket types also include Italian Renaissance Alive.

Antler Hill Village Illumination

Included with admission—Bask in the glow of a glittering cascade of lights illuminating trees, buildings, and the pathways that connect the unique shops, restaurants, and Winery in Antler Hill Village. Experience this must-see part of the Christmas at Biltmore tradition, which includes festive displays adorning Ciao! From Italy and our relaxing Winery, where complimentary tastings await.

Christmas Daytime Celebration

November 3, 2023–January 7, 2024

A daytime visit to Biltmore is a feast for the senses, featuring fragrant wreaths, glittering garland, and the sparkle of thousands of ornaments from Biltmore House to Antler Hill Village! Wrap yourself in the magic of this most beloved of holiday traditions: Christmas at Biltmore.

NEW THIS YEAR:
All Biltmore House tickets include FREE next-day grounds access!
Select ticket options also include Italian Renaissance Alive.

BUY ONLINE & SAVERight Arrow

Plan now for Christmas at Biltmore 2024! View Ticket Options.

Candlelight Christmas Evenings

An Unforgettable Holiday Evening

November 3, 2023–January 6, 2024

A majestic Norway spruce and pathway luminaries welcome you to America’s Largest Home®. Inside, thousands of ornaments reflect the soft glow of candles, fireplaces, and twinkle lights. The magic continues in Antler Hill Village, which is festooned with glittering lights, ornaments, and displays.

NEW THIS YEAR:
All Biltmore House tickets include FREE next-day grounds access!
Select ticket options also include Italian Renaissance Alive.

BUY TICKETSRight Arrow

Plan now for Candlelight Christmas Evenings 2024! View Ticket Options.

Meals on Wheels of Greenville Young Professionals: CauseBars
Dec 3 all-day
Meals on Wheels- Greenville

Get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping with Meals on Wheels of Greenville Young Professionals’ holiday edition CauseBars! Perfect for stocking stuffers, gifts for coworkers, or teacher appreciation baskets. These gourmet chocolate bars come in Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt.

For every CauseBar purchased for $10, a homebound client will receive an emergency meal kit to use in an emergency event. Purchases can be made online, over the phone (864-233-6565), or in-person at our office.

Paranormal Cirque
Dec 3 all-day
Spartanburg Fairgrounds

Spartanburg, SC – Welcome to the darkest corner of your mind as Paranormal Cirque III comes to town! This one-of-a-kind production features incredibly talented artists with the sole purpose of taking you in a sensual journey of acrobatics, contortion, aerial acts and more. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat while you witness death-defying stunts, creepy creatures, and haunting performances.

Horrifying yet seductive, this show comes to life under the mysterious white and black Big Top Tent with hypnotic and sultry acts. Provocative illusionists, freaks and mysterious creatures will make you see that this circus is anything but normal. Our wide range of otherworldly characters will send shivers down your spine. From zombies to erotic witches; sexy vampires to gruesome ghosts, and everything in between, there’s no shortage of terrifying beings in this show.

A brand new production, fresh out of the mind of the talented and successful entrepreneur Manuel Rebecchi; comes to join the other 5 touring shows Cirque Italia has produced since its creation in 2012. A new spectacle combining breathtaking visuals, first-class circus artists from all over the world and the latest technology. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or just looking for a thrilling night out, Paranormal Cirque III is an experience not to be missed.

“We’re excited to bring this unique and thrilling show to Spartanburg,” said Luisa Nealon, Cirque Italia’s Marketing & Public Relations Manager. “We’ve assembled an incredible cast of performers, and we can’t wait to showcase their talents to our audiences. This show is perfect for anyone looking for a night of entertainment and scares.”

Paranormal Cirque III will be performing at Spartanburg Fairgrounds from November 30th – December 3rd. Tickets are available now at www.paranormalcirque.com or by calling at 941-704-8572. Get yours and step into a world of delicious scares, sensual horror, alluring acrobatics, and plenty of saucy secrets you’ll get to discover for yourself!

Don’t miss your chance to experience the most spine-tingling show of the year!

Restricted – under 18 REQUIRES accompanying parent or guardian. This show has adult language and material. Paranormal Cirque is offering a special promotion: $5.00 off any full priced ticket purchased in levels 1, 2, or 3. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or deals. Please call 941-704-8572 to get the promo code for your location.

For tickets and more information, visit www.paranormalcirque.com or call us at 941-704-8572.

Show schedule:

When: November 30th – December 3rd, 2023
Where: 575 Fairgrounds Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29303
At: Spartanburg Fairgrounds in the parking lot

– Under the terrifying White & Black Big Top Tent!

November 30 – Thursday: 7:30pm
December 1 – Friday: 7:30pm
December 2 – Saturday: 6:30pm & 9:30pm
December 3 – Sunday: 5:30pm & 8:30pm

The Curator’s Journal: A Year-long Insider’s View of American Bonsai at The North Carolina Arboretum
Dec 3 all-day
online w/ The North Carolina Arboretum

Registration is ongoing through the year. Get new updates and access all previous entries in a convenient online library.

The Curator’s Journal by Bonsai Curator Arthur Joura is a year-long course offering the ultimate insider’s view of bonsai at The North Carolina Arboretum. Regular entries chronicle growing an art and growing an enterprise. Some journal entries will be long and others more brief; some will be mostly words and others mostly pictures; some will be close-up studies of detail and others will step back to take in the wider scene. The path will not be linear, but all the entries will be steps along a journey.

You’re invited to come along.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SPEND LOCAL IN SPARTANBURG
Dec 3 all-day
Spartanburg

Make holiday shopping easy this year and support Spartanburg businesses. Whether you’re shopping in-store, from the comfort of your couch or from your office desk, spend local this holiday season.

SHOP ONLINE IN SPARTANBURG

These retailers offer e-commerce options so you can shop from the safety of your home.

DOWNTOWN SPARTANBURG SHOPPING GUIDE

Plan a trip to Downtown Spartanburg to knock out your holiday shopping list.

MADE IN SPARTANBURG GIFT GUIDE

Boost community pride with gifts that are Made in Spartanburg

Tweetsie Christmas
Dec 3 all-day
Tweetsie Railroad

Celebrate the holiday season as Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland for Tweetsie Christmas on November 24, 25, 26, December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30!

Closed Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Buy Tickets Now

Tweetsie Christmas offers holiday activities the whole family will love, including a 20-minute nighttime train ride in an open-air car behind one of the park’s historic steam locomotives on a three-mile route lined with over 1 million Christmas lights, a heartwarming, toe-tapping, live Christmas variety show, kid-friendly amusement rides, meetings with Santa in his Gingerbread House filled with candied furnishings, and roasting s’mores over an outdoor fire.

Upstate Food Access Interactive Map
Dec 3 all-day
online
It’s no secret that food insecurity is an issue facing many of our neighbors in the Upstate. Fortunately, there are countless organizations and resources working tirelessly to alleviate that stress!
Head over to our Upstate Food Access Resource Map to locate service providers near you!
VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live!
Dec 3 all-day
online w/ Hub City RR Museum

VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live from the Hub City RR Museum in Spartanburg.

The Virtual Railfan cameras were installed on Tuesday, July 6th at the Hub City Railroad Museum. There is one camera looking north and one looking south. The Hub City RR Museum wants to thank the City of Spartanburg for allowing us to install the cameras, and to Virtual Railfan for the install. We have already seen over 300 railfans at one time watching the video feed.
Links to live feeds: [North Camera feed] [South Camera feed]

Carolina Railroad Heritage Association

CRHA LogoThe Carolina Railroad Heritage Association is a <501(c)(3)> not for profit local association of approximately eighty members who enjoy railroads and railroad history. The CRHA is currently meeting the third Friday of each month in Fountain Inn, SC at 7:00 pm. Programs at the meetings include presentations on historical and current railroads and are presented by members as well as outside speakers. Our activities include a photo contest, occasional field trips to local railroad sites, picnics and a December pot luck dinner. CRHA members volunteer at our museum and caboose in Spartanburg, SC. If you have an interest in railroads, contact Dave Winans at [email protected] for more information about the CRHA.

For membership, please download and print the membership application and follow the instructions.

Museum Hours:
Wed: 10am – 2pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm

We the Kingdom’s A Family Christmas
Dec 3 all-day
Relentless Church

Premier Productions, leading promoter of faith and family events and World Vision are bringing “A Family Christmas” with We The Kingdom and Matt Maher, an 11-city tour featuring nights of worship and Christmas wonder in concert.
We The Kingdom is a Grammy Nominated multigenerational family of musicians, producers and songwriters consisting of Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, NEEDTOBREATHE, Crowder), Scott Cash, Franni Cash Cain, Martin Cash and Andrew Bergthold.
An amalgamation of four different decades, We The Kingdom’s music embraces pop, country, folk and rock—with a heart rooted in worship. Together, they write songs about the full spectrum of human emotion as they aim to capture brokenness, honesty and the redemptive power of God’s love through their vulnerable, gritty lyrics.

Sumerel + Woodbine Holiday Collection
Dec 3 @ 12:00 am – 4:00 pm
Woodbine Studio & Gallery

Holiday Gift Show featuring the work by 20+ local artists. If you are looking for unique gifts this is the place to find something truly special.

SHOW DATES:
Opens on Friday, Dec.1 from 6-9pm
Saturday. Dec. 2 from 10am-6pm
Sunday, Dec. 3 from 1pm-4pm

Woodbine Studio & Gallery is located in the Meyer Center complex.